Lawson misses Rebus performance

No Rebus show for Charles Lawson on Tuesday

Doctors have advised Charles Lawson that he should not take to the Edinburgh King’s stage tonight, Tuesday 9 October 2018, in the role of John Rebus.

The Coronation Street star was taken ill early in the second half of Monday’s Scottish premiere of Rebus: Long Shadows as reported in Æ (Lawson illness halts Rebus), with the performance being completed by his understudy Neil McKinven.

Charles Lawson pictured with playwright Rona Munro and Rebus author Ian Rankin before the Scottish premiere of Rebus: Long Shadows at The King’s Theatre. Pic: Greg Macvean.

After being helped from the stage by co-stars John Stahl and Cathy Tyson, who were on stage with him at the time, Lawson was treated in his changing room at the theatre on Monday night and went by taxi back to his digs.

However, understudy rehearsals were scheduled to take place on Tuesday morning and it was revealed in the afternoon that doctors have advised that Mr Lawson should not perform on Tuesday evening.

The Tuesday evening performance will now feature Neil McKinven in the title role of Ian Rankin’s hugely popular detective, John Rebus, who is here making his first appearance in a stage play, written by Rona Munro.

McKinven usually plays a variety of minor roles in the production but is now taking on the lead role against Cathy Tyson as Rebus’s former colleague, DI Siobhan Clarke, and John Stahl as Rebus’ nemesis Big Ger Cafferty. McKinven’s roles will be played by his understudy, Andy Paterson.

The production company said in a statement issued on Tuesday that: “Mr Lawson will be back on stage as soon as possible” but could not give any indication whether he would be fit enough to return on Wednesday, when there are two shows scheduled at 2.30pm and 7.30pm.

Listings

Rebus: Long Shadows
King’s Theatre, 2 Leven Street EH3 9LQ. Phone booking: 0131 529 6000
Monday 8 – Saturday 13 October 2018.
Evenings: 7.30pm, matinees Wed, Sat: 2.30pm.
Tickets and details: www.capitaltheatres.com/whats-on/rebus

The script of Rebus: Long Shadows is available from Amazon in both hardback and kindle formats. Click on the image for details:

ENDS

Tags: Andy Paterson, Cathy Tyson, Charles Lawson, Ian Rankin, King's Theatre, Neil McKinven, News, Rebus, Rebus: Long Shadows, Rona Munro